Bandung Student Killed by Friend Had Been Reported Missing Since February 9
Jakarta - The body of SMPN 26 Bandung student with the initials ZAAQ was found lying at the former Kampung Gajah site in Cihideung Village, Parongpong Subdistrict, West Bandung Regency. Before being found dead with multiple stab wounds, ZAAQ had been reported missing.
It is now known that the 14-year-old was murdered by his own friend, YA (16), a vocational school student in Garut Regency, and his relative AP (17). ZAAQ was killed on Monday (2/9/2026), but his body was only discovered on Friday evening (2/13). The victim had been reported missing after failing to show up at school, as confirmed by the school.
“Tuesday evening. Tuesday evening, the child went missing. Until the news came out and was posted in the group chat,” said SMPN 26 Bandung Principal Titin Supriatin, as reported by detikJabar on Sunday (2/15).
On Monday (2/9), the victim was known to have still attended school and participated in classes until the end of the day. The victim then went home with his friends.
“So on Tuesday, his aunt informed us that he couldn’t come to school because he hadn’t come home yet,” she said.
The Perpetrators’ Motive
The murder committed by YA and AP was premeditated. YA felt hurt because the victim had ended their friendship. YA then departed from Garut on Monday morning to meet the victim.
“Actually, YA wanted to meet the victim since Saturday (2/7), but suspect AP still had work as a wedding decorator. So they could only go to Bandung on Monday,” said Cimahi Police Chief AKBP Niko N Adi Putra when met on Sunday (2/15).
YA then met victim ZAAQ near his school. They continued their conversation at the former Kampung Gajah tourist attraction area at around 3:30 PM WIB. Suspect YA and ZAAQ then went deeper into the abandoned area.
“Meanwhile, suspect AP waited outside. It should be noted that suspect YA had already brought a knife on his motorcycle. He then put the knife inside his jacket,” Niko said.
Their conversation turned into an argument, until suspect YA eventually smashed a bottle found at the scene against ZAAQ’s head. This was evidenced by a laceration wound on the victim’s head caused by a blunt object.
“After the victim fell but was still conscious, the suspect then plunged the knife he had brought eight times into the victim’s abdomen. The suspect then left the victim still alive,” Niko said.
Suspect YA then took the victim’s phone and the jacket the victim was wearing — the jacket had actually been a gift from the suspect. Both suspects then returned home to Garut.
Eventually, the victim’s family became suspicious as ZAAQ never came home. Niko said the relationship between the two was like siblings. Their friendship was also known to the victim’s family. ZAAQ had previously attended school in Garut but transferred to Bandung.